Article-carrying container



5 1 6 .t o, 7 h 6 5, r 1.. N s R M E m E n MQ# cme m01 Rmu Wne mmm MJ amm Rmm R A Dec. 29, 1925' Dec. 29, 1925 1,567,065

R. B. LAWRENCE ARTICLE CARRYING CONTAINER Filed June 21, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec@ 1925; Y* Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUBEN B. LAWRENCE, Oil? BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO FEDERAL LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

ARTICLE-CARRYING CONTAINER.

Application med June a1, 1922. serial Na 569,824.

To all whom it may zzo/neem.'

Be it known that I, RUBEN B. LAWRENCE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Article-Carryinfr Containers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to article carrying containers, and more particularly to containers for Ycarrying valuable goods, such, for example, as a handbag carried by a bank messenger.

The article carrying container is provided with a device for emitting incapacitating gas which will be set in operation in case of holdup. The incapacitating gas will prevent any person from carrying away the article carrying container, thus completely foiling any robber who hopes to carry away his loot. An incapacitating gas may be used which will completely incapacitate any person in the immediate vicinity but which will be leave no permanent injurious effects. Robbery can thus be more surely prevented than by the messenger carrying a revolver, and at the same time the lives of innocent bystanders will not be imperiled.

In the drawings whichv illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a handbag, the gas emitting device being dotted Figure 2 is a side elevation of the gas emitting device removed from the handbag; Figure 3 is a central vertical section I through the gas emitting device;

detail view of the cord and Figure 4 is -'a safety knot' Fi e 5 1s a section along the line V--V of Figure 2;

Fi ure 6 is a section alongthe line VI VI Figure 3.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in an ordinary handbag 1 such as is commonly used by bank messengers or other persons for carrying large amounts of currency. The gas emitting device, indicated generally by the reference character 2, is mounted Inside of the bag and is actuated by means of acord 3 which extends through a bushing 4 on the side of the bag adjacent to the bag handle 5. The cord 3 is fastened to one end of the handle so that it may be conveniently grasped by the carrier and pulled to set off the gas in case robbery is attempted.

The gas emitting or generating device 2 consists of a cylindrical shell 6 secured by suitable straps 7 in the handbag. Inside of the shell 6 and spaced from its walls, is a renewable gas cartridge having a foraminous holder 8 which contains the gas producing substance 13. A mixture of chloroacetophenone crystals and guhpowder is preferably employed. The npowder upon ignition by its heat vaporizes the chloroacetophenone crystals into a gas. The gunpowder, by its combustion furnishes a large volume of vehicular gas which is emitted from the bag, carrying with it the chloroacetophenone gas. The chloroacetophenone gas is a lachrymose gas which has a practically instantaneous effect and for a space of several minutes will completely incapacitate the person who is gassed. A wouldbe robbers attention will be entirely devoted to getting away from the immediate vicinity the best he can. without thought of carrying away the gas emitting bag. The gunpowder may be either ordinary black powder or smokeless powder. If smokeless powder is used, it is preferred to mix with it a small amount of some inert combustion retarding material, such as magnesium fxide, to make the powder more slow burnmg.

A sho rt tube or nipple 9 extends from the shell 6 through the bag for the escape of the gas.

The gas cartridge is preferably spaced apart from the walls of the shell `6, because I have found that the combustion takes place better and more completely if the mass of gas producing crystals and gunpowder is substantially surrounded by an ing them with some solvent such as ben- L zene.

The term gunpowder as here em loyed is intended as a term of general de ition Y and not of limitation, and to include various kinds of gunpowder or similar materials which are capable of self-supporting combustion'in the absence of an adequate supply of oxygen and produce a volume of g The gas is set 0H b means of a detonating cap struck by a ammer and which is released by the cord 3. As shown in the drawings, an ordinary shotgun cartridge shell 10 is fitted over one end of the holder 8. This shell is provided with the usual cap 11 filled with fulminate of mercury or similar detonating material. A primer, such as ordinary black powder or meal powder 12 is provided next to the cap 11 to be ignited thereb and in turn ignite the mixture of gunpow er and crystals 13.

The cap 11 is! arranged to be struck by a hammer 14. The hammer 14 is carried on the end of a rod 15 set in a cylinder 16 and provided with a coil spring 17. The rod 15 has a latch-piece 18 which is normally turned in the position shown in Figures 3 and 6 to hold -the hammer 14 retracted. When the cord 3 is pulled, the latch-piece 18 is turned to enter the slot 19 and permit the spring 17 to drive the hammer against the cap 11.

The cord 3 extends through a tube 2O the distal end of which projects through the back near the handle. The end of the tube 20 has a bushin or cap 4. The cord 3 at the distal eng of the tubehas a knot 22 which isI large enough so that it cannot pass through the cord opening in the cap 4. If the cap 4 is screwed on the end of the tube 2O the cord cannot be pulled to release the hammer 14, and the bag can be carried without any particular precaution in case the safety device` or cap 4 is screwed in place. When, however, the ba is filled with currency and is being carrie through the streets, the cap 4 may be unscrewed and the bank messenger can then, by a simple pulling movement of the cord 3, set the gas emitting device into instant operation. Since the cord 3 is next to the handle, it can be pulled and the gassing device set in operation when the bank messenger drops the bag in case he is ordered to hold up his hands, or can be easily and naturally pulled in case a person attempts to grab the bag ont of the messengers hands.

No person would be able to pick up the bag and carry it oi for some time after the gassing device is set off, so that the bag cannot be stolen until it is time for police or other help to arrive and frustrate the attempted robbery.

After the device is used, it can be easily and immediately reiilled with another charge of gas producing material. For this purpose. the shell 6 can be readily taken apart. The cap 23 which covers the latchpiece and which carries the tube 20, is held by a bayonetJ joint 24. The sleeve 25 1n which is mounted the cartridge shell 10 'which holds the gas cartridge, is secured to the body of the shell 2 by means of a bayonet joint 26. The cylinder 16 which holds the hammer mechanism is held to the sleeve 25 by means of a bayonet joint 27 and can be thus easily separated from it to insert another gas cartridge. The cartridge is held in place b the engagement of the edge 28 of the shel between the end of the cylinder 16 and the sleeve 25. The joint between the sleeve 25 andthe shell 6 tightly closes this end of the as chamber. The other end is closed by t e cap29. A- thin plug of paraiin 30, which is readily blown out bythe pressure of the gas, seals the opening through the tube 9.

While I prefer to genera-te the incapaci- Vtating gas bythe combustion of gunpowder associated with the gas forming material, it is obvious that the generated. Moreover, the gas emitting device may be employed with article carrying gas might be otherwise.

limited to its illustrated embodiment but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a container adapted for transporting articles of a gasemitting device for protecting the container and its contents against robbery, the gasnemitting device being adapted to continue to emit an incapacitating gas over a substantial period of time lafter being once set in action, and means for setting the device into action, said means comprising a member adapted to be grasped by the carrier of the container and arranged to setthe gas-emitting means into operation when the member is actuated by the carrier, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a container adapted for transporting articles, of a device for protecting the container and its contents against robbery, ting means adapted to continue to emit an incapacitating gas over a substantial period of time after being once set in action, means for setting said gas-emitting means in action upon attempted theft or robbery of the container, and a chamber gas emitting?.r meansand maintaining it separate from the container, the chamber having an opening outside the container, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a containerA comprising gas-emitfor holding the u adapted for transporting articles, of a chamber separate from the container, gas emit-` ting means therein adapted to continue to emit an incapacitating gas after being once set in action, manually controlled means for setting the gas emitting means in action, and a gas outlet leading from the chamber to a point outside the container, Substantially as described.

4. The combination with a container 'adapted for transporting articles, of a chamber within the container but separated therefrom, gas emitting means within the chamber adapted to 4continue to emit an incapacitating gas after being once set in action, manually controlled means for setting the gas emitting means in action, and a conduit leading from the chamber to a point outside the container, the Vconduit being relatively small in cross sectional area, substantially as described. v

5. The combination with a containerhaving a handle and adapted for transporting articles, of a device for protecting the container and its contents againstrobbery, the device being adapted to emit an incapacitating gas, manually controlled means for `actuating said device and means for rendering the actuating means inoperative when desired, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an article carrying container, of a device for emitting an incapacitating gas, comprising a container' holding 'an incapacitating gas producing ing such material, substantially as descr1bed.

7. The combination with an article carrying container, of a device for emitting an incapacitating gas, comprising a container holding a vaporizable solid incapacitating gas producing substance and gunpowder, a detonating cap for igniting the gunpowder, a hammer for striking the cap, and manually operable means for releasing the hammer, sustantially' as described.

8. The combination with an article carrying container'having a handle, of a device for emitting an incapacitating gas, comprising a container within the article carrying container holding a solid vaporizable incapacitating gas producin substance and gunpowder, a cap' for ignit ng the gunpowder, a hammer for striking the cap, and manually operable means forreleasing the hammer including a cord extending through the wall of the article carryin container adjacent to the handle to be readily grasped and pulled by the person carryin thel article carrying container, substantia ly as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RUBEN B. LAWRENCE. 

